Giffords and Kelly: Fighting gun violence — Our new campaign will launch a national dialogue and raise funds to counter influence of the gun lobby. — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — The children of Sandy Hook deserve our efforts to stop gun violence. — In response to a horrific series …

The White House Just Set Gun Rights Activists Ablaze — Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported the gun violence task force led by Vice President Biden is considering gun legislation “far broader and more comprehensive...than simply reinstating an expired ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition.”

My Successor? Mayor Ponders Dream Choices — It has been a bedrock assumption of this year's race for New York City mayor: Michael R. Bloomberg and the muscular political operation that guided him to three electoral victories will coalesce around his favored candidate, Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker.

First Thoughts: No margin for error in Hagel nomination — President Obama's nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel for defense secretary has been earning criticism, with Hagel under fire for past statements on Iran and Israel. Obama, however, said Hagel's “willingness to speak his mind” …

Richard Cramer, Wrote of Presidential Race, Dies at 62 — Richard Ben Cramer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and the author of “What it Takes,” a superbly detailed account of the 1988 presidential election considered among the finest books about American politics ever written, died in Baltimore on Monday night.

Hagel and the Jews — A friend and admirer of Senator Hagel called the other day to ask whether we'd ever met the nominee to be secretary of defense. We expressed our regrets that we hadn't. Our friend wanted us to know that Mr. Hagel does not dislike the Jews.

John Brennan, “Arabist” — By the standards of the Obama administration, John Brennan, its nominee for CIA director, will not be noteworthy for lack of warm feelings towards the State of Israel. In a normal administration, though, he would stand out for this reason.

Public Lukewarm on Cliff Deal, But Obama Bests Boehner — Americans give a lukewarm response to last week's agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, albeit with higher marks for the deal to President Obama than to House Speaker John Boehner. — More people in this ABC News/Washington Post poll approve …

Fast-Food Worker Hours Cut, New Health Care Law Blamed — A fast-food chain is slashing employee hours so franchise owners don't have to pay health benefits. Around 100 local Wendy's workers have learned their hours are being cut. A spokesperson says a new health care law is to blame.

Most in U.S. Say Politics in Washington Cause Serious Harm — Slight majority optimistic that things will improve over next 10 years — PRINCETON, NJ — More than three-quarters of Americans (77%) say the way politics works in Washington these days is causing serious harm to the United States …

McChrystal backs gun restrictions — Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal backed banning assault weapons on Tuesday, saying guns like the M4 and M16 belong in the hands of soldiers, not on the streets. — “I spent a career carrying typically either a M16 and later, a M4 carbine,” McChrystal said on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.”

Why Hagel Was Picked — Americans don't particularly like government, but they do want government to subsidize their health care. They believe that health care spending improves their lives more than any other public good. In a Quinnipiac poll, typical of many others …

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